Architecture: The German Unson Heritage House in Silay City

 

The German Unson Heritage House in Silay City, built in 1938, still stands proudly on its original grounds.

There are houses—and then there are homes where time refuses to move on. In Silay City, Negros Occidental, one such place continues to open its doors, carrying almost a century of stories within its walls: the German Unson Heritage House. Built in 1938, the house belonged to the Unson family and still stands on its original 2,600-square-meter property. For decades, it witnessed homecomings, reunions, and Christmases filled with laughter. Today, it lives on not just as a heritage site but also as a bed-and-breakfast, offering guests a one-of-a-kind experience. 

Michelle “Chell” Unson Lacson Jimenez is the current owner and manager of the bed and breakfast. She belongs to the fifth generation of the family that lived in the property. Before the current structure, a wooden ancestral home stood closer to the gate. Though the land already belonged to their clan long before, it was her grandfather, German Unson, who built the present house after marrying Fe Ledesma. Together, they raised their four children – Rene, Lourdes, Carmen, and Cristina – here, filling its rooms with life and memory.

Heritage house plaque located outside the main door (left) and the grand stairwell to the second floor (right)

Every corner of the house reflects Negrense history and the Unson family’s love for open spaces. Balconies and verandas abound in almost every corner. One of the most beloved spaces was the mezzanine balcony, fondly called the cactus deck. Chell remembers how her grandmother, Fe, and her aunt Lourdes were avid collectors of cacti. “That area was full of it, puno gid na siya as far as I can remember,” (That area was full of it - it was filled with cacti, as far as I can remember) she shares. Unfortunately, when the house became a bed-and-breakfast, the tradition faded. “No matter how hard I tried, kag ang akon man nga staff, daw ni isa sa amon wala gid green thumb,” (No matter how hard I and my staff would try, not one of us possessed a green thumb) Chell admits with a laugh.

Inside, heirlooms remain. Though some no longer function, they are kept as they always were – a grandfather’s clock, a barometer, and other precious collections stand as silent witnesses to the family’s past.

After the last occupant, Lourdes “Uding” Unson, passed away in 2005, the house fell into disrepair. Chell’s sister, with her background in interior design, began restoring it to make it livable again for visiting relatives and friends. By 2016, the German Unson Heritage House officially opened its doors to the public as a bed-and-breakfast. The family likes to think that this transformation was done with the blessing of their grandparents. German and Fe,  and their children were known to be sociable people who loved to host parties and welcome guests. Turning the house into a B&B felt like a natural continuation of their spirit of hospitality.

Driveway to the house (left); the German-Fe room, the master bedroom, features a king-size bed, a living area, and a portrait of Fe Unson (middle); the Rene room, named after the couple’s only son, features two single beds and is located in the ground floor

Unlike formal hotels, the B&B operates with a lean staff: Chell herself, Inday the cook and housekeeper, and Domeng the caretaker and gardener. Guests check in informally, often at the foyer table surrounded by family photographs. “Daw balay ni siya,” Chell says, “It feels like home”.

For Chell, the house is inseparable from family gatherings. Saturdays were reserved for Unson family lunches, and Christmas was always celebrated around the dining room with a Christmas tree in the middle of the second floor. As the youngest at the time, Chell fondly remembers being the center of attention, with most gifts under the tree meant for her.

Food, of course, remains at the heart of these traditions. Inday, the housekeeper and cook, learned recipes created by Chell’s grandmother who was known for her culinary skills. Among the specialties is diablo – a chicken relleno dish with a fiery red sauce, spiced with Tabasco, served only on special occasions. Other Christmas favorites include lengua (ox tongue), chorizo pudpud (ground pork sausage) and pato sa tuba (duck in coconut wine).

Lengua, one of Lola Fe’s specialties served in the heritage house (left); A noche buena spread in the dining room (middle); Chorizo pudpud, a best-seller in their all-day breakfast menu (right) 

The German Unson Heritage House is more than a place to stay – it is an experience of Silay’s cultural soul. Guests enjoy breakfast in their rooms, but the B&B also serves all-day meals and family recipes to non-guests by reservation. The house has become a venue for weddings, birthdays, photo shoots, and other special events, blending tradition with modern hospitality. 

Chell sees her role as continuing the legacy of her mother, aunts, and grandmother: to make guests feel at home. “That’s my mom. That’s my tita (aunt). That’s my lola (grandmother) as well… So I think, ang ila nga how to be hosts, how to take care of guests, ginsunod ko lang na sa ila. It's a part of our family.” (...So I think hosting and taking care of guests is something I learned from them. It’s a part of our family.)

Bed and breakfast welcome sign (left); Owner and manager Chell Jimenez (right)

For bookings and inquiries please call (034) 432 2943 or 0925 874 5021. They also accept reservations through their Facebook page, German Unson Heritage House and email address guheritagehouse@gmail.com.

Article and video script by: Leezo Dionzon 

Photos and Video by: Unit A Creatives